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VIRGINIA LEADS, 



I 



1 ♦ 







PUBLISHED BY 



♦ 

THE VIRGINIA DIVISION | 



United Daughters of Confederacy 

1916. 



I 



: 

♦ 

t PRICE TEN CENTS. 

►♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦^ 



VIRGINIA LEADS 




PUBLISHED BY 
THE VIRGINIA DIVISION 

United Daughters of the Confederacy 



1916 



PRICE TEN CENTS 






The greatest gift the hero leaves his race 
Is to have been a hero. Say we fail ! 

We feed the high traditions of the world 

And leave our spirit in our children's breasts. 

— Spanish Gypsy. 






\ 






This pamphlet includes the paper which 
won the prize offered by the Historical De- 
partment of the Virginia Division, United 
Daughters of the Confederacy in nineteen 
hundred and fifteen. Written by Mrs. W. 0. N. 
Merchant, of the Rawley Martin Chapter, and 
other items compiled by Mrs. Cabell Smith from 
all papers submitted in the contest. 



Virginia Leads. 



"Virginia is the only State in the Union which can nev- 
er hope to win a greater glory than that which already cov- 
ers her as with a garment." — Houston Chronicle. 

First charter granted in America — (History.) 

First permanent English colony, Jamestown, May 13, 
1607.— (History) 

First religious service held in the first permanent Eng- 
lish colony. — (History) 

First English Minister, the Reverend Robert Hunt. (His- 
tory.) 

First farming by English people in the New world. — 
(History.) 

First to discover the love apple (tomato) — (Ruther- 
ford.) 

First Fort at Jamestown, completed June 15, 1607. 
— (Tyler.) 

First church built by English people in North America, 
1607.— (Tyler.) 

Highest falls in the South, Crab Tree Falls. 

First trial by jury September 17, 1607. — (Tyler). 

First shiio built bv Englishmen in America, the Virgin- 
ia, October 1607.— (Tyler.) 

First book written in America, "The True Relation, 
etc,", 1608, by John Smith.— (Metcalf.) 

First iDook printed in America. — (Rutherford.) 

First marriage of English people in the New World, 
Anne Burras and John Laydon, December 1608. — (Tyler). 

First Glass factory, 1608.— (Tyler.) 

First Thanksgiving Day, 1609. — (Rutherford.) 

First physicians in an English colony in the New World 
Wilkerson and Wooten, Jamestown, 1608. — (Rutherford.) 

First child born in the first permanent colony of Eng- 
land, Virginia Laydon, October, 1609. — (Tyler.) 

First block house at Jamestown, 1609. — (Tyler.) 

First mining of ore, 1609. — (Virginia Agri. Depart- 
ment. "^ 

First American poem, "A Ballad of Virginia," R. Rich, 
1610. — (Poets of Virginia, Painter.) 



— 5— 

First wharf in the new world, 1611. — (Tyler.) 
First victory of Americans over the crown, the amend- 
ed charter 1609, written by Sir Edwin Sandys. — (Thos. Nel- 
son Page.) 

First English Sunday-School. — (Rutherford.) 
First English hymn book. — (Rutherford.) 
First tobacco raised by an Englishman, John Rolfe, 16- 
12._ (Tyler.) 

First Indian in an English colony to be converted to 
Christianity and baptized, Pocahontas, 1613. — (Tyler.) 

First law posted enjoining attendance at divine wor- 
ship. — (Thos. Nelson Page.) 

First marriage in an English colony of white man and 
Indian, 1614, Pocahontas and John Rolfe. — (Tyler). 
First salt works, 1614. — (Tyler.) 
First church plate in America, 1617. — (Tyler.) 
First to encourage the Pilgrim. Fathers to settle in New 
England, Capt. John Smith, 1614. — (Matthew Page An- 
drews.) 

First American Assembly, August 9, 1619. — (History.) 
First Chaplin of the first General Assembly, Richard 
Buck.— (Tyler.) 

First to attempt education of the Indians, 1619. — (Mat- 
thew Page Andrews.) 

First colony to have a tavern. — (Rutherford.) 
First to have a missionary to the Indians. — (Ruther- 
ford.) 

First to undertake the establishment of a free school, 
1619.— (Andrews). 

First to sound the note of local self-government, 1619. 

— (Hall.) 

First written Constitution for regulating the internal 
affairs of an English colony, 1619. — (Tyler.) 

First negroes brought to an American colony, 1619, 
(these negroes were not slaves, but bound out after the 
manner of indentured white servants. — (Andrews.) 

First charter for free government in America,, 1621. 

— (Fall.) 

^ First colony to send warning to the Plymouth Colony 
after the massacre of 1622. — (Andrews.) 

First silk worms raised in America, 1614. — (Tyler.) 
First iron works in America, 1619. — (Tyler). 
First wind mill in America, 1624. — (Tyler.) 
First genuine romance in American literature, Capt. 



— 6— 

John Smith's story of Pocahontas, History of Virginia. 

— (Metcalf.) 

First water mill in the New World, 1621. — (Painter.) 
First American theologian, Alexander Whitaker. — (Vir- 
ginia Literature, Newman.) 

Best original poems in America during the 17th cen- 
tury, anonymous, found at the end of the Burwell papers. 

— (Newman.) 

First assertion on the American continent of the prin- 
ciple *no taxation without representation," 1624. — (Tyler). 
First professional poet of America, George Sandys, 1626 

— (Newman.) 

First colony to pass a law to regulate the levying of 

taxes by the Crown, 1624. — (Thomas Nelson Page.) 

First college in America in its antecedents, Henrico, 

1619, William and Mary. — (Wm. & Mary Quarterly.) 

First brick house in the United States, John Harvey's 

1630.— (Tyler.) 

First State House, 1630.— (Tyler.) 
First revolt against British authority, 1635. — (Tyler.) 
First general law in regard to roads, 1632. — (Tyler.) 
First colony to declare for freedom of trade, 1642. — 

(Thomas Nels^on Page.) 

First American Rebel, 1676, Nathaniel Bacon. — (Hall.) 
First American martyr to liberty, Thomas Hansford. 

1676.— (Hall.^ 

First (Custom House in the New World, Yorktown. — 

(Lv-ttor, Clerk York Co.) 

D'irst to haA'e ."vjlonial currency. — (Rutherford.) 

First to leave a legacy to the poor. — (Rutherford.) 

First hospital in America. — (Rutherford). 

First orphan asylum. — (Rutherford.) 

First to christanize the negro. — ( (Rutherford.) 

First to demand the right to will one's property. — 

(Rutherford.) 

First to have a post office. — (Rutherford.) 
First to have a court house. — (Rutherford.) 
First incorporated town in the United States, Williams- 
burg, 1632. — (Agricultural Department.) 

First in accomplishments among Americans in Colonial 

times. Col. William Byrd.— ( (Tyler.) 

First American college to secure a charter from the 

Crown under the seal of the Privy Council, William and 

Mary, 1693. — (William and Mary Quarterly.) 



First and only American college to receive a Coat of 
Arms from the Herald College, 1694. — (Wm. and Mary- 
Quarterly.) 

First colony to have a library. — (Rutherford.) 

First colony to have free libraries, 1676. — (Rutherford.) 

First colony to have a circulating library. — (Ruther- 
ford.) 

First American to be made a member of the Royal So- 
ciety, Wm. Byrd. — (Makers of Virginia History, Chandler.) 

First colieere in the United States to have a full Facul- 
ty, 1604. — (William and Mary Quarterly). 

First colony to make brick. — (Rutherford.) 

First colony to stand for religious freedom. — (Ruther- 
ford.) 

First college to have a full professorship in Mathema- 
tics, 1712.— (Tyler.) 

First college to have a full professorship in Natural 
Science, 173 2.— (Tyler.) 

First collejsre in America to confer medallic prizes, 1771. 
— (William and Mary Quarterly). 

First to establish an intercollegiate fraternity, 1776, — 
William and Mary. 

First to have an elective system of study. 

First to have the honor system. 

First to have a school of modern languages. 

First to have a school of Municipal and Constitutional 
Law. 

First to teach political economy, 1779. — (William and 
Mary Quarterly). 

First colleere in the United States to become a Univesi- 
ty, William and Mary. — (Rutherford). 

First commencement in America, William and Mary, 
1700. 

Fi^st colonv to n^-ovide for female education, bill passed 
General Assembly, 1779. — (Thomas Nelson Page.) 

First capitol. so called in the United States, Williams- 
burg, 1705.— (Tyler.) 

First American Historian "retaining an original spirit, 
Robert Beverly. — (Professor Jameson, Carnegie Institute). 

First regular iron furnace in North America, 1714. — 
(Chandler). 

First Englishmen to cross the Blue Ridpre Mountains, 
(Governor Spottswood and his knights of the Golden Horse 
Shoe, 1716.— (Chandler.) 



First school for Indians. — (Sydenstricker and Burger), 

First ischool for the deaf and dumb, established by 
Mr. Boiling^! of Cobbs— (Letter on File). 

First insane asylum, Williamsburg 1773. — (Syden- 
stricker and Burger) . 

First country in the world to endeavor to prohibit sla- 
very 1769.— (Hall). 

First country to declare the slave trade piracy. — (Thos. 
Nelson Page.) 

Legislated against slavery the greatest number of 
times, 32. — (Rutherford.) 

First man to "Ring the alarm bell" for the continent, 
Patrick Henry, the "Parson's Case" 1763. — (Sydenstricker 
and Burger.) 

First colony to enter formal protest against the Stamp 
Act, May 29, 1765. — (Sydenstricker and Burger). 

First to propose Committees of Correspondence, 1773, 

— (Hall.) 

First colony to shed her blood in the Indian prelude to 
the Revolutionary struggle. — (Newman.) 

First colony to call for a general congress. May 1774, 

— (Newman). 

First to preside over a congress in America, Peyton 
Randolph, September 1. 1774. — (History.) 

Prepared the "Address to the people of the Colonies'' 
recommended bv the General Congress, Richard Henry Lee 

— (Metcalf.) 

First colony to authorize the arming and disciplning of 
troops preparatc^ry to an armed resistance.- — (Hall). 

First volunteer company organized in the South which 
entered into actual service during the Revolution. — (The 
Spirit of the South, Stewart.) 

First "Declaration of Independence" by any State, May 
15, 1776.— (Thomas Nelson Pasre.) 

Transmitted the above de<^laration to the General Con- 
gress. Benjamin Harrison. — (Thomas Nelson Page.) 

First State to fly the Union flag from its capital, WiF 
liamsburg, May 17, 1776. — (Thomas Nelson Page.) 

, First State constitution adopted in America, June 29, 
1776. — (Sydenstricker and Burg-er.) 

A Virginia author of the "Bill of Rights," George Ma- 
son. — (History.) 

First to move the adoDtion of the resolution that the 
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and in- 



— 9— 

dependent; Richard Henry Lee, July 2, 1776. — (History.) 

Writer of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jef- 
ferson, — (History.) 

Greatest orators of the Revolutionary Period, Patrick 
Henry and Richard Lee. — (Sydenstricker and Burger.) 

A Virginian author of the best known oration in American 
history, Patrick Henry. — (Metcalf.) 

A Virginian moved the adoption of the Declaration of 
Independence, Richard Henry Lee. — (Metcalf). 

First and only Commander-in-Chief, Continental 
Army, George Washington. — (History). 

First man to hold the rank of General in America, 
Washington, Rank created in 1792. 

First and only Commander in Chief Continental Navy, 
James Nicholson. — (Rutherford.) 

First declaration of religious freedom, William Wirt 
Henry, 1776.— (Hall.) 

A Virginian offered a plan of government for the 
States when the Articles of Confederation were found to be 
inadequate, Edmund Randolph. — (Ridpath). 

A Virginian writer of the Constitution, James Madison. 

— (Rutherford). 

A Virginian presided over the Convention held in Phila- 
delphia, May 1787, George Washington. — (History.) 

The most daring cavalry officer of the Revolution, (Rich- 
ard Henry Lee (Light Horse Harry) — (Andrews.) 

Hero of the greatest naval victory of the Revolution, 
John Paul Jones (settled in Virginia 1773.) — (Andrews). 

First in the number of distinguished men in the Revolu- 
tionary period, no other colony furnished as many. — (Paint- 
er.) 

First President of the United States, George Washing- 
ton. — (History.) 

Greatest number of Presidents of the United States, 
Washington. Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Taylor, Harrison 
Tyler and Wilson. — (History). 

First nrofessor of law in the United States, George 
Wythe, 1779.— (Tyler.) 

First State to enter great northwest Territory, 1779 

— (Sydenstricker and Burger). 

First Attorney (^neral of the United States, Edmund 
Randolph. — (Ridpath.) 

First Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. — (Chand- 
ler.) 



First Secretary" of Foreign' affairs, Thomas XeffersoTiv 
— (Ridpath.) 

First to^ estaBlisli' oir. a^ firm'- a^d enduring- basis, the' 
SitruGture of American: law, John Marshalli. — <Eidpath). 

First to offer' the" doctrine which has consecrated the; 
tFnited' States^ to^ fi-ee^ iflStitutioLns;, Jannes' MonToBi — (Rid- 
patfr.y 

Best kncwff- Am^iigan Author,. Thomas^ Jefferson. — 
CNewm^n.) 

First to work o\lt a' schem^e for pliMic education, Thom- 
as' Jefferson.— -(Metcfarf) .• 

First to" use the" expression "first in war, first in peace' 
a,nd first iff t^e h^afts' of his" coafftryinen'* Kiiehard Henry 
Lee.-^-<Histo"ry.) 

First to^ idl tiie" hstehet story; Farson Weeins; — <South- 
6rn^ Literature", Brevard'.) 

First statute" for' religibil's freedom" of a"ny goyemment 
iff thd^worlid' offered' by' Thomas Jefferson 178'5. — (Chandler.)^ 

First ^rSffd' Lod'ge^ of Masons" orgianized in America,. 
W'ilTiSmsburg; Ms^' 1%^ 1777.^— (Letter of Past Gener-al Mas- 
ter' Cn file.) 

first MaLSonic ;Terfipfe---(Kuther^^ 

LoffgeT in^ c"offtinffed ffse" for masonic purposes than any 
other' btiiTdiffg' iff the^ tJnited' Staties; Eichmond, Randolph 
lodge; ITgB^.--<Tgbl"et on b~ulMiffg.) 

First steaffibost ifivented by James Rumisey, publicly 
^ailed\ I'T^f. Hik tornfr is" in London, England and states 
this"' fad;.-=<'Sydeffstrick6r- snd Btirgier)\ 

First iff th^ namber of men who shaped the American 
Niatioff ; Washiffgtoff", Je^'erigon, Madison, MaTshall and Ham- 
Jlioff, ffour'^^giffikffsT.— (Fiske) 

A Virginiaff "the" idbi of the people in the golden age of 
(5ratc5ry" itf Am"erie^% Senry Gay (hGstti m Virginia and lived 
there uritiT tweffty)— (M'etcalfT. 

Fiske" gays (jf Nicholas Ferrar r '^'Of all the figures that 
thT(5n"g Am'6ric"a's~ past he" is" the" mos"t soTemnly beautiful". 

First to" preyent the" stamping of the President's head 
6ri the N^ationaT croiff and substitute the figure of Liberty, 
/(jhn' Fage^.—CThomas Neison Page) . 

Firsi: interest in" Fnglish Histrical work in America, 
Tteffag /e^erg-off.— (Henneman). 

Mmt iffrpcJrfafft college" in the South, University of Vir- 
gi':^.3=(S^yd'effgtricker and Hurger) . 

First range (jf academic structure, laid out as a whole 



'in the Tcouritry, TFriiversity (O'f Virginia. — (Thomas 'Nelson 
;Pag'e).. 

First State .Ilniveraity to establish tthje Ihonor system. 
— (Professor (Geolcrgy Uriiyersity/).. 

IFirst State 'Uniyersity to establish the celectiye sys- 
tem oT study. — CProf essor (Geology University). . 

First State University Lto teach. Aiiglo-Saxon—CPrdfes- 
: sor ^Geology "University) . 

(The "UniYersity of yirginia has :neyer 'conferred an 
honorary degrree). 

Grea.ter nuniber of graduates in the Senate and House 
of Representatives than any mother ;;institUtion of learning, 
North or South, — (Stewart). 

"The Virginia "Dynasty" period, 1789-1825, only four 
•years of which thelPresiderit of the United States \was oth- 
' er than a 'Virginian. — (Sydenstricker and Burger) . 

All t!he frigates used in the 'War of t8T2 ^ built at "Nor- 
folk, T'a.—CRutherford) . 

Leader of the ''Coclcade" I8I2, "Richard "McHae.^ 
(Rutherford). 

Tirst to rmport "Merino sheep^nd ^Calcutta hogs.^- 
^(Stewart). 

The greatest master of scathing and satircal" invective 
of America, 'John Randolph of Roanoke. — (Newman). 

First to- use the reaping^ machine, "Gyrus'Mctjormick, in- 
ventor 1831. — (History) . 

"First and best" known Southern Magazine, Southern"Lit- 
'erary "Messenger, 1834. — (Sydenstricker and Burger). 

First "President of "Texas and the" leading spirit ' in that 
country's struggle for independence, 'General Sam Houston. 
— (Ridpath). 

First and last commanding generals in the war with 
Mexico; 'General "Zachery 'Taylor, ^General Wirifield Scott. 
— (History). 

First in the number of promotions received f or galant- 
ry in the "Mexican .war, Thomas "J. "Jackson (Stonewall) ^- 
(Hall). 

First State farmers' organization in 1843. — ^^ (Syden- 
stricker and "Burger) . 

First scientific farmer, Edmund Ruffin, — ^^(Sydenstrick- 
' er and Burger) . 

First in number of States given to the Union ; Ohio, 
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and a; part of ."Minne- 
f sota. — (J. William 'Jones) . 



First literary critic in America, Edgar Allen Poe. — 
(Newman). 

First inventor of the detective story, Edgar Allen 
Poe, — (Newman) . 

First modem short story writer, Poe. — (Metcalf). 

The greatest literary artist of the New World, Poe.— 
(Newman). 

First student of the University of Virginia to publish 
a volume of poems, Thomas J. Semmes. — (Newman). 

Best novel written in the South prior to the War be- 
tween the states, The Virginia Comedians, John Esten 
Cooke. — (Newman) . 

Greatest humorist of the South, 1850-1876, Dr. 
George W. Bagby. — (Newman). 

Best of the Southern war novelists, John Esten Cooke, 

— (Newman). 

First nautical work of science by a naval officer, Mat- 
thew Fontaine Maury. — (Stewart). 

Originator of the present system of weather observ- 
ations, Maury. — (Stewart). 

Inventor of the electric torpedo, Maury — (Stewart), 

First to make possible the laying of the Atlantic Cable, 
Matthew Fontaine Maury. — (Hisory). 

Ablest newspaper editor in the South during the War 
Between the States. John M. Daniel.. Richmond Examiner. 

— (Newman). 

First town in the South in wealth according to pop- 
ulation at the opening of the war between the States, 
Warrenton, Va. — (The Women of the Debatable Land 
Hunter) . 

Most concise statement of the rights of secession, 
Southern States of the American Union, Curry. — (New- 
man). 

First invasion of Southern soil, being the forerunner 
of the war between the States, John Brown's raid, October, 
1859— (History), 

First and only State to lose territory by the secession 
of counties, said counties denying the right of a State to 
secede. West Virginia, — (History), 

First to propose a peace conference between delegates 
from the Northern and Southern States, February 4, 18 1. 
— ^Andrews), 

First federal soldier killed south of the Potomac river 
in the War between the States, Col. Ellsworth, First Zou- 



aves, Alexandria, Va., May 24, 1861. — (Unwritten South> 
Stonebraker) . 

First Southern man killed south of the Potomac river 
in the War between the States, Thomas Jackson, May 24 
1861.— (The Unwritten South, Stonebraker). 

First Confederate soldier killed in the war between 
the States, Johr. Q. Marr. Fairfax C. H., June 1st, 1861 

— (History). 

First Commander-in-Chief of the Union Army, Gen. 
¥/-.nfieid Scott, — (History (. 

Greatest military genius in America, Robert E. Lee. 

— (Chandler). 

First great battle in the war between the States, First 
Manassas. July 21, 1861 —(History). 

First to turn the tide of battle at Manassas, resulting 
in a victory for the South, "Stonewall Jackson. — (History). 

First to conceive the idea of an iron clad vessel, John 
Mercer Brooke , — (Andrews). 

First to revolutionize naval warfare, battle between 
the Virginia and naval fleet. March 8. 1862 — (History). 

First battle between iron clads, March 9, 1862. 

First and only company formed at a college or Uni- 
versity, North or South, which fought from the beginning 
of the War between the States until its close. Liberty 
Hall Volunteers, (Washington and Lee University). — Major 
Wm. Anderson, Times Dtspatch. Feb, 21. 1915). 

First and only instance in modern times where boys, 
from 14 to 17 were called upon to take an equal part with, 
and against, veterans in a militay campaign. 1864 ; Cadets 
from the Virginia Military Institute — (Andrews). 

Greatest number of battles in the War between the 
States fought on Virginia soil, over five hundred. — (Ruth- 
erford) . 

First used submarines in warfare, Matthew Fontaine 
Maury, — (Mrs. N. V. Randolph, Times Dispatch, March 12 
1915), 

First use of explosives in an enemy's ship, John Max- 
well of the Confederate secret service, John Maxwell is now 
an inmate of the Soldier's Home at Richmond, Va. March 
12, 1915, —(Tims Dispatch). 

Leader in the most famous charge of the War between 
the States, Charge of Pickett's Men at Gettysburg, — (His- 
tory) . 

First man over the historic "Stone fence" in Pickett's 



—14— 

Charge, Rawley Martin, — (Life of Robert E. Lee, Fitz- 
hugh Lee). 

The most representative poetess of the Confederacy, 
Mrs. Margaret Preston, — (Metcalf). 

The "Laureate of the Lost Cause", Father Ryan, 

— (Metcalf). 

First among novelists in his portrayal of Southern 
gentlefolk, Thomas Nelson Page. — (Brevard.) 

First memorial Association, Winchester, May 1865, 

— (Letter of President on file). 

First among the Southern States in numder, prom- 
inence and activity of its historical Societies, seven of such 
societies, — (Henneman). 

Best equipped Southern State for furniching subjects 
to the American Statesmen Series, — (Henneman) 

First in numer of members of the American Historical 
Association, almost half the Southern membership. — (Hen- 
neman). 

First Historical Society in the South, 1831 — (Henne- 
man). 

First enrolled member Daughters of the American 
Revolution, Mrs. Benjiman Purcell). 

First Ti*easurer D. A. R., Mrs. Marshall McDonald. 

— (Letter Mrs. Purcell). 

First to offer the resolution which resulted in the 
building of Continental Hall, Mrs. Marshall McDonald, 

— (Letter Mrs. Purcell). 

First State organization United Daughters of Confed- 
eracy, October 21, 1895, — (U. D. C. Minutes). 

First Chapter U. D. C. Organized north of the Mason 
and Dixon line. Gen. Dabney H. Maury Chapter, organized 
by the Grand Division of Virginia, January , 1897, now^ 
Chapter No. 41, Virginia Division — (U. D. C. Minutes). 

First in membership among the Divisions U. D. C, 
9597 members, — (Virginia Division Minutes). 

First Chartered Chapter, Children of the Confederacy, 
Alexandria, Va., May 6, 1807.— (Charter on file). 

First in amount of money raised by any state for 
the Jefferson Davis Monument, — (U. D. C. Minutes). 

First and only division U. D. C. to decorate the graves 
of the Confederate dead at Arlington, October 1901. 

First to suggest the erection of a Confederate Monu- 
ment at Arlington, Mrs. James Y. Leigh, October 1901. 

First in amount of money raised by any Division U. D. 



^15^ 

C. for the Arlington Monument, — ^Va. Division Minutes 
1914. 

First to protest against the use of Elson's history in 
Southern schools, Southern Cross Chapter, Salem, Va., 
— (Va. Div. Minutes). 

First to suggest the flag ceremony at U. D. C. Con- 
ventions, Mrs. Frank Anthony Walke. — (U. D. C. Minutes). 

First Division U. D. C. to have a committee for the re- 
lief of Confederate Widows, Wives and Sisters, 1910.— (Vir- 
ginia Division Minutes). 

First to propose a relief Committee in the U. D. C, Mrs. 
Norman Randolph 1911, —(U. D. C. Minutes), 

Greatest diplomat of the Spanish- American war period 
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, —Hall). 

Fired first salute at El Caney, Anderson — (Ruther- 
ford). 

Greatest number of ships ever assembled in the West- 
ern Hemisphere, Hampton Roads, Jamestown Exposition, 
1909. — (Sydenstricker and Burger). 

Largest, deenest and safest harbor on the Atantic 
Coast, Hampton Roads. — (Geography). 

Largest Natural Bridge. — ((Geography). 

Largest Natural Tunnel. — (Geography). 

Most healthful belt in the United States, Piedmont 
Virginia. — (Government statistics). 

First in the production of pyrite. — (State Geolo- 
gist). 

First in the production of manganese ore. — (State 
Geologist). 

First in the production of mill stones — (State Geolo- 
gist). 

First in the production of soapstone. — (State Geolo- 
gist). 

First and only producer of rutile. — (State Geogolist). 

Greatest amount and variety of marine food any body 
of water in the world, Chesapeake Bay. — (Virginia Agri- 
cultural Department). 

First county in the United States in the amount of 
sweet potatoes raised, Accomac. — (Va. Agircultural Dept). 

Best slate pencils in the world, Albermarle slate, free 
from grit. — (Virginia Agricultural Department). 

Largest duck farm in the world, Warren County. — 
(Virginia Agricultural Department). 

Largest and most valuable deposits of salt and plaster 



^46— 

111 the United States, Smyth County. — (Virginia Agricul- 
tural Department). 

First and only state to export cattle to foreign markets 
direct from pasture fields. — (Va. Agri. Dept.) 

First and only arsnic mine in North America, Floyd 
County. — (Virginia Agricultural Department). 

Finest oysters, Lynnhaven Bay. — (Geography). 

Greatest number of crabs. — (Virginia Agricultural 
Department) . 

Greatest trucking section in the world, Tidewater 
Virginia. — Virginia Agricultural Department). 

Greatest number of medicinal spring resorts. — Virginia 
Agricultural Department) . 

First in quality of iron, brings best prices at Northern 
forges.— '(Thomas Nelson Page). 

First in quality of coal, gives greatest speed on ocean 
liners. — (Thomas Nelson Page). 

Greatest port for shipping coal in the world, Hampton 
Roads. — (Virginia Agricultural Department). 

Largest alfalfa farm in the east. — (Virginia Agricul- 
tural Department). 

Finest apples in the world, Albemarle Pippins. — (Vir- 
ginia Agricultural Department). 

First in quantity and quality of peanuts — (Virginia 
Agricultural Department). 

First to use peanuts as food, Mr. Thomas Rowland, 
Norfolk, Va. — (Sec. Chamber of Commerce). 

Greatest coal exporting port in America, Norfolk, Va, 

— (Sec. Chamber of Commerce). 

Heaveist freight trains in the world run into Norfolk. 

— (Chamber of Commerce). 

Largest Fortress in America, Fortress Monroe. — 
Chamber of Commerce, Norfolk) . 

Largest shipbuilding plant, Newport News. — (Chamb- 
er of Commerce, Norfolk). 

Largest dry docks, Newport News. — (Chamber of 
Commerce). 

Largest cigarette factory in the world, Richmond. — 
(Chamber of Commerce). 

Largest cedar works in the world, Richmond. — 
(Chamber of Commerce). 

Largest baking powder works in the world, Richmond. 
' — (Chamber of Commerce). 

Largest factory for the production of antique furni- 



—17— 

ture in the world, Richmond. — (Chamber of Commerce). 

Larg-est bottled flavoring extract plant in the world, 
Richmond. — (Chamber of Commerce). 

Largest blotting paper industry in America, Richmond. 
— (Chamber of Commerce). 

Larg-est bank in the South, Richmond. — (Chamber of 
Commerce). 

Leading theological institution of the Southern Pres- 
byterian Church, Richmond. — (Chamber of Commerce). 

Leading medical college in the southeast. — (Chamber 
of Commerce). 

Largest surplus in proportion to its capital any bank 
in the United States, Farmers Bank of Nansemond.— 
(Banker). 

Larg-est loose leaf tobacco market in the world, Dan- 
ville. — (Henmig's Geography). 

First in quality of tobacco raised in the United States, 
Virginia Leaf. — (Virg-inia Agricultural Department). 

Largest independent cotton mills in the South, Dan- 
ville. — (Board of Trade). 

Largest market for Spanish peanuts in the United 
States, Petersburg. — (Chamber of Commerce). 

Greatest number of trunks and traveling bags manu- 
factured by any city in the world, Petersburg. — (Chamber 
of Commerce). 

First in quantity of tobacco maunfactured for export, 
Petersburg. — (Chamber of Commerce). 

First in number of cigarettes manufactured for export, 
Petersburg. — (Chamber of Commerce). 

Largest woolen mills south of the Potomac River, 
Charlottesville. — (Virginia Agricultural Department). 

More shoes made in Lynchburg than in all the remain- 
ing South combined. — (Chamber of Commerce, Lynchburg). 

Largest tanning extract mill in the world, Lynchburg 
— (Chamber of Commerce). 

First and only exclusive wholesale china and crockery 
business in the south, Lynchburg. — (Chamber of Com- 
merce). 

First and only college for women in the South which 
is clasified in "Division A" by the United States Bureau of 
Education, Randolph-Macon Woman's Colege. — (Chamber 
of Commerce, Lynchburg) . 

First Ambassador to Spain, Joseph E. Willard.— 
(History) . 



-=-18— 

First and only State University to offer scholarships 
to all State Divisions U. D. C, 22 ; University of Virginia. 

— (Action Board of Visitors, March 1915). 

First to present the "Currency Bill" in the Senate, 
Senator Owen, Oklahoma (by birth a Virginian. — (Con- 
gressional Record). 

First to present the currency bill in the House, Con- 
gressman Carter Glass. — (Congressional Record). 

Greatest historian of Southern birth, Woodrow Wilson. 
^ — (Newman). 

Inventor of cap for peanut shocks, William P. Lifsey. 

— (Patent Office). 

Largest warship in the history of the world, the Penn- 
sylvania, now being build at Newport News. 

First President of Council, Edward Maria Winfield. — ■ 
(History) . 

First book written, Whitaker's "Good Newes" — 
(History). 

First book printed, Sandy's Translation of Ovid's Me- 
tamorphosis. — (History) . 

First History — Smith's True Relation. — (History). 

First Map, Smith's 1612.— (History). 

First Narrative, Strachey's "True Repertory" (Founda- 
tion for Shakespeare's Tempest. — (Ck)oke). 

Virginia the only country in the new world to furnish 
inspiration for this great dramatist. 

First place in New World to have poem written about 
it Drayton's 'Lines to Virginia". — (Cooke). 

First college charter, Henricus (1616) planned by 
George Sandys and George Thorpe, prevented by Indian 
Massacre. — (CJooke) . 

First Doet, George Sandys, whom Dryden called "Best 
versifier of the age". — (Preston). 

First Constitution ever written, Edwin Sandys, 1619. 
—(Cooke). 

First water-mill, 1621, George Sandys and George 
Wyatt built.— (Cooke). 

First free school, endowed by Benjamin Sym, 1634. — - 
(Cooke). , 

First Indian Massacre, 1622. — (Cooke). 

First people's tax (two barrels and one-half of corn 
for public granary). — (Cooke). 

First church bell, used by Richard Bucke who succeed- 
ed Hunt. — (Cooke). 



—19— 

First temperance law, 1619. The Assembly made it 
unlawful for a man to get drunk. — (Cooke). 

First to settle North Carolina, Roger Green, 1653. — 
(Hill). 

First to establish permanent settlement on the Cumber- 
land River, John Robertson. — (Hill). 

First book on Natural History, written by John Bam- 
inster 1686 — Title "Curosities of Virginia". — (Library of 
Southern Literature). 

First to explore Cumberland River, Dr. Thomas Walker 
1750.— (South in the Building of the Nation). 

First Governor of Tennessee, John Sevier. — (Hill). 

First theatrical performance, 1752, when the Virginia 
Company of comedians came over in the ship "Charming 
Sally" and acted "Shakespeare" and "Congreve". — (Cooke). 

First to write a play, William Berkley, "The Lost 
Lady." was played in London. — (Cooke). 

First missionary sent to sister colony, William Edmund- 
son, sent to N. C. in 1672.— (Hill). 

First woman to be the wife of three Governors, Francis, 
who m^arried Governor Stephens of Albermarle, Governor 
Berkley o-f Virginia, and Governor Ludwell of North Caro- 
lina.— (Hill) . 

First to receive a present from an English Queen, Anne 
sent over a bell and communion service to Bruton Church. 

— (Cooke). 

First Governor of North Carolina, William Drummond. 
—(Hill). 

First to introduce writ of Habeas Corpus, Alexander 
Spotswood. — (Cooke) . 

First to appoint a Postmaster, Alexander Spotswood, 
appointed Benjamin Franklin. L (Cooke). 

First licensed minister of Presbyterian faith, Frances 
Makemie, 1699. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

First warehouse, built by William Byrd, 1679. — 
(Cooke). 

First shot fired in French and Indian war, Washington, 
near fort Duquesne. — (Cooke). 

First woman Historian, Mrs. Ann Cotton of "Q" Creek. 

— (Cooke). 

First girl heroine, Elizabeth Zane. — (Magill). 
First to have coach presented him by a king, Lord 
Botetourt (presented by George HI — 1769.— (Cooke), 



^so- 
First fortress protected by women "White Aprons" at 
Jamestown. — Cooke) . 

First to appropriate money to build a "palace" for the 
Governor, Burgesses appropriated £2000 to build house for 
Governor Spotswood. — (Cooke). 

First to capture the pirate Blackbeard, St. Robert 
Maynard sent by Spotswood. — (Lee). 

First to denounce the Regicides as murderers. — (Lee). 

First Southern "Priscilla", Miss Betsy Hansford who 
married Rev. John Camm. — (Cooke). 

First great southern educator, James Blair. — (Library 
of Southern Literature). 

First and only man to teach five of the signers of the 
Declaration of Independence, Rev. James Maury. — (Cooke). 

First to have celebrated architect draw plans, Sir Chris- 
topher Wren drew the plans for William and Marry College. 
— (Cooke). 

First to preserve colonial records, Nicholas Ferrar. — 
(Fiske). 

First in the United States to collect a private library, 
William By rd.— (Fiske). 

First, or among the first, surveyor generals appointed 
by the king, Zachary Taylor (ancestor of the President of 
that name. — (Cooke). 

First to- have its "shores ravished by a hostile foe", 
Dunmore in the ship "Fowey". — (Cooke). 

First to cross the American continent, Meriwether 
Lewis and William (IJlark. — (Lee). 

First professor of Mathematics in America, Rev. Hugh 
Jones at William and Mary. — (Library of Southern Litera- 
ture) . 

First horse racing in 1737. — (South in Building of the 
Nation). 

First quarantine against yellow fever, 1722. — (South 
in the Building of the Nation). 

First to discover the relation of mosquito to yellow 
fever, Dr. Walter Reed — (South in the Building of the 
Nation) j 

First "Long Parliment" in the New World, Burgesses, 
1660-1676.— (Cooke). 

First woman to appear before an Assembly, Queen of 
of the Pamunkey Indians appeared before the House of 
Burgesses. — (Cooke) . 

First Declaration of Independence in America, signed 



—21— 

by Bacon's Followers, August 3, 1676. — (Cooke). 

First Scientific sociologist, George Fitzhugh. — (Libra- 
ry of Southern Literature). 

First woman in New World to petition King for re- 
dress of grievance, Sarah Drummond. — (Hill). 

First to invent the use of steam for distilling spirits, 
Dr. Samuel Brown. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

First in America to make a coat worn by an English 
king Charles II wore at his coronation a coat or robe 
made of Virginia silk. — (Cooke). 

First manuel training school. In 1668 the House of 
Burgesses ordered that "In each County there be built 
houses for educating poor children in the knowledge of 
spinning, weaving and other useful occupations. — (Cooke.) 

First revolutionary battle fought on American soil, 
Bloodv Run 1676, commanded by Bacon. — (Cooke). 

First private hospital. Dr. William Cabell's. — (South 
in the Building of the Nation). 

First triphine bone for abscess, Dr. Thomas Walker of 
Albemarle. — (South in the Building of the Nation). 

First impulse to the American Revolution, Resistance 
to the Stamp Act, 1765. 

First Governor of an Idependent State in the world, 
Patrick Henry. — CCabell's and their Kin). 

First Baptist Preacher of note, John Leland of Or- 
ange. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

First to attemr)t to unite all the Colonies and put him- 
self at the head, Nicholson, 1700. — (Cooke). 

First famous "Coffee House" in America, the Apollo 
Room of the Old Raleigh Tavern, Williamsburg. — (Cooke). 

First to be called "The hot bed of the RebelHon", 
Williamsburg. — (Cooke) . 

First "Antiquary" of the New World, Richard Bland. 
—(Cooke). 

First to discover Kentucky. Capt. Thomas Batts sent 
bv Governor Berkeley, 1671. — (South in Building of the 
Nation) . 

First to build house in Kentucky, Dr. Thomas Walk- 
er.— (Hill). 

First short-horn cattle imported, 1793. — (The South 
in the Building of the Nation). 

First witch in the South, Grace Sherwood, 1705. — 
(History). 

First Bishop, Dr. Griffith, 1786.— (Hill). 



52 

Tlrst thoroughbred horse, "Bu'Ile "Rock''^ imported "by 
-Patton and Gist, 1.730;— (The .South in the Building of the 
Nation).. 

First to [propose committee ajf Gorrespandence, Dab- 
ney t:Ja];f.— (History). 

-First to compose t"his committee, Robert 'Carter Nichol- 
son, Richard Bland, Hichard Henry Lee, Beni. Harrison,. 
Edmund Pendleton, Patrick Henry, Dudley Diddes, Dabney 
'Carr, Archibald Carey, 'Thomas Jefferson. — (History). 

First to elect delegates to Continental Congres, August 
11, 1'77B. Deregates, P^eyton RandolpTi, "Richard Henry Lee,. 
George Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard Bland, "Benja- 
man Harrison, Enmund Pendleton. — (History). 

First committee of safety, Edmund Pendleton, 'George 
Mason, John Page, Thomas Ludwell Xee, Paul Carrington, 
Dudley Gigges, William 'Cabell, Carter "Braxton, James Mer- 
cer, John Tabb. — (History). 

First Republican Constitution adopted in America 
Written "by George 'Mason, adopted June 29th, 1776. — 
(History). 

First man to feed "Washington's whole army a week,. 
Mann Page. — (Cooke) . 

First to use American "Flag, 'Washington, January 1^ 
1776. 

First independent Convention at Old St. "John's l^hurch, 
when Patrick "Henry said 'Giye me liberty etc." 

First to use the expression "Fellow-citizen," Patrick 
Henry:— (Morgan) . 

First man to supply one thousand horses and $200,000 
to the Continental army, Thomas Nelson. — (Cooke). 

First to give her Jewels for the patriotic cause, Sarah 
Carey. — (Cooke) . 

First to have foreign novelist described in fiction,'Thack- 
eray's "Virginians. (John P. Kenendy wrote chapter IV of 
this book.) 

First to turn the gun against his own home because 
it sheltered a hostile foe, Thomas Nelson. (William "Drum- 
mond is said to have set fire to his home at "Jamestown for 
the same reason years before) — (History). 

First Paul Revere of the South, Jack Jewett, who rode 
to warn Thomas Jefferson of the coming of the British. — 
^(Albemarle Chapter "U.'D. C.) 

First to keep weather record. Jefferson. — (History). 

-First survey o'f "State line, "William Byrd, .assisted by 



WiTfiam DandricTge and Ricliard Fitzwilfiams surveyed InL 
C Line.— (Cooke). 

First minute men of the Revolution^ commanded by 
John Marsiial- — (Cooke).. 

First president of Emandpaition Society,, James: Mon- 
roe. — (Cboke). 

First native born American Governor, Hon. Thomas 
l.ee. — (Library of Southern LiteratuTe). 

First native bom historian, Robert Beverly. — (L.ibra- 
ry of Southern Literature). 

First to send out twenty-seven soldiers of the Revo- 
lution, two Attomey-GeTierals, twenty members of Congress, 
fifteen Senators, seventeen governors, thirty-sven Judges, 
a Lieutenant-General and other officers. Two Commodores, 
twelve professors, four signers of the Declaration, seven 
cabinet officers', a chief justice, and three Presidents, Wil- 
liam and Mary ColTege. — (Morgan). 

First Historian, General U. D. C. Mrs. J. Enders Rob- 
inson.— CU. D. C Minutes). 

First Author to write for deaf mutes, John A Jacobs. 
— (Library of Southern Literature). 

I'irFL BJ?hop of Methodist Church in Amenca,Fraiicis 
Asbury, (Traveled 270,000 miles on horseback). — (Library 
<of Southern Literature). 

First bill authorizing Coast Survey, passed under 
Thomas Jefferson The first head of this survey was Fer- 
dinand R. Hassler. — (South in Building of the Nation). 

First to be sent to put down Whiskey Rebellion, 'Light 
Horse" Harry Lee. — (History). 

First mint planned by Thomas Jefferson 178T. — (His- 
tory^ . 

First Penitentiary system, 1796. — (History). 

First to introduce the system of decimal currency, 
Thomas Jefferson. — (History) . 

First secretary of interior. Thomas Ewing. — (History). 

First mpn to be chief Justice for thirty-five years, 
John Marshall.— (Historv). 

Firs^" Universitv in New World, University of Virginia 
1819.— (History). 

First .«7reat contribution to American Historical Liter- 
ature Marshall's "Life of Washington". — (Library of South- 
ern Literature). 

First bioc^r-aDhv told bv anecdotes. Parson's Weem's 
"Life of Washington". — (Library of Southern Literature)., 



—24— 

First Military Biography, "Memoirs of the War in 
the Southern Department of the United States" (1809) by 
General Henry Lee. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

First geneological work, Meade's "Old Churches, Min- 
isters and Families of Virginia. — (Library of Sduthem 
Literature). 

First Theologian of his day. Dr. Archibald Alexander, 

— (Library of Southern Literature). 

First to conquer Texas, Samuel Houston. 

First to suggest Library of Congress Jefferson. 

First Historical society in South, 1831. — (Library of 
Southern Literature). 

First great American poet, Edgar A. Poe. — (Library 
of Southern Literature). 

First great writer of negro dialect, Thomas Nelson 
Page. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

First Romances of the Confederacy "Mohun," Surry of 
Eagles Nest," Etc., John Esten Cooke. 

First 'American Cicero*" Richard Henry Lee. — (Cooke) 

First States admitted to U. S., Vermont and Kentucky. 
(George Washington, President). — (History). 

First to purchase Florida, (James Monroe, President. 

— (History). 

First "Farewell Address" Washington, 1796. — (His- 
tory). 

First to fire a gun at Fort Sumpter, Edmund Ruffin, he 
was allowed this privilege as he was the oldest member en- 
rolled. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

First Medical Society in United States, Lexington. 

— (Library of SoutherD Literature). 

First governor of Louisiana, W. C. C. Claiborne. — 
(History). 

First to prove the existence of oxygen in the sun 
William Draper. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

First to have a memorial window in a colored church, 
Stonewall Jackson at Roanoke, Va. — (Wm. Watts Chapter 
U. D. C.) 

First to discover the value' of marl as a fertilizer, Ed- 
mund Ruffin (this added millions of dollars to the value of 
farms in Eastern Virginia and elsewhere. — (Virginia Agri- 
cultural Report). 

First to secure 70,000 bibles for confederate soldiers. 
— (Library of Southern Literature). 

First to have great statue of so many famous men 



—25— 

Washington statue in Richmond, surrounded by Mason, Jef- 
ferson, Lewis, Marshall and Henry. — (History). 

First man to be offered the presidency of the Universi- 
of Virginia, Woodrow Wilson 1898. — (Official Correspond- 
ence, Gov. Tyler). 

First Anti-Mason candidate for President, William 
Wirt.— (Lee). 

First to have three hundred and fifty battles and skir- 
mishes within its borders during the war between states, 
see Chesapeake and Ohio R. R. map with complete list. 

First to liave its fields so devastated that a crow flying 
over had to carry its rations. — (History). 

First to have a statue to the President of the Confed- 
eracy. — (History) . 

First President of the American Medical Association, 
Dr. Nathaniel Chapman. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

First Bishop of North Carolina, John Stark Ravens- 
croft.— (Hill). 

First ti ppss resolutions against Alien and Seditions 
Laws. 1798.— (History). 

First men tried under these laws, John Thompson Cal- 
langer, 1800.— (History). 

First trial under the constitution for treason. Burr at 
Richmond. — (History) . 

First to make Louisiana purchase, Thomas Jefferson 
President. The greatest addition to any territory acquir- 
ed without blood sheed. — (History). 

First Chemist, Emmet of University of Virginia. — 
(Library of Southern Literature). 

First work in Physics. John W. Draper , Hampden- 
Sydney. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

First to use phrase "Mason and Dixon Line*' John 
Randolph of Roanoke. 

First marble statue in U. S.. Lord Botetourt in front 
of William and Mary College. — (Cooke). 

First Governor of Alabama, William Wyatt Bibb. — 
(History). 

First to cause removal of three Governors, Andros, 
Nicholson and Spotswood. James Blair. — (Cooke). 

First American to win Michael Beer prize. Sir Moses 
Ezekiel, (Confederate Veteran). 

First state in South to require railroads to equip sta- 
tions with telephones. — (The South in the Building of the 
Nation) . 



First in iTnited States to give instruction in Economic 
History, Prof. G. F. Holmes at University of Virginia. — • 
(The South in the Building of the Nation). 

First in the South to establish Mutual Telegraph sys- 
tem. — (Ibid). 

First electric street car, Richmond, installed by F. F. 
Sprague, 1887.— (Ibid). 

Greatest negro orator and educator, Booker T. Wash- 
ington, born at Hales Ford, Franklin County. — (History). 

First Consul General of Cuba, Fitzhugh Lee. — 
(History). 

First to take a mesage to Gracia-Rowan. — (Elbert 
Hubbard). 

Gave to the Continental Army; Brigs dier-Generals, 
Washington, Morgan, Charles Scott, Mulenberg, Edward 
Stevens, Hugh Mercer, Robert Lawson, William Woolford, 
William Campbell, Thomas Nelson, George Weeden, Col- 
onels: Henry Lee (Light Horse Harry), William Washing- 
ton, Theodric Bland, George Bayler, Charles Harrison Con- 
federate Generals : Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston, 
Samuel Cooper. Lieutenant-Generals : Jackson, Hill, Pem- 
berton. Early. Major-Generals: Heath. A. S. Johnson, 
Kemper, Fitzhugh Lee, G. W. C. Lee. W. H. F. Lee, Lomax, 
Magruder. Mahone, Maury, Pickett, Rhodes, Rosser, Smith, 
Stevens, Stuart, Taliaferro. 

Virginia has in the Hall of Fame, Washington, Jef- 
ferson, Marshall, Madison, Monroe, Robert E. Lee, Henry 
Clay. — (Newspaper files). 

Six counties produces 30,000,000 pounds of tobacco in 
one year. — (Agricultural Report). 

Nearly two thirds of the manganese in the U. S. is 
produced here. — (Agricultural Report). 

Corundum has been found in four places in the world, 
one of these places is in Virginia. — (Agricultural Report). 

More than one-half of the soapstone and talc used in 
the U. S. is taken from Virginia quarries. — (Agricultural 
Report) . 

One apple tree in Patrick County produced one hun- 
dred thirty-two bushels in one season. — (Agricultural 
Report). 

A single acre of Albemarle pippins has yielded one 
thousand dollars worth of fruit in a season. — (Agricultural 
Report) . 

Bloodiest battle of war between States, Antietam. 



—27— 

Only statue of Washington modeled from life. Houdon's 
in Richmond. — (History) . 

Largest fertilizer plant, Virginia-Carolina Chemical 
works, Richmond. 

Oldest church now in use in America Bruton Church, 
built 1750. — (Mary Johnston). 

Most daring confederate raider, John S. Mosby.-- (News- 
paper Files). 

Largest confederate Army assembled at Seven Days 
Battle. — (History) . 

Best educated man, Lewis Burwell who was said to 
have embraced almost every branch of human knowledge in 
the circle of his studies. — (Cooke). 

Largest zinc works in the world, Pulaski. 

Lost more men than any other Military School (even 
West Point) in war between States, V. M, L 

Greatest army of the world, Army of Northern Va. 

Lost by Slaves $225,000,000 (451,000 slaves). 

First marriage west of the Alleghanies, Mary Draper 
and William Ingles. — (Trans Alleghany Pioneers). 

Oldest Confederate General, Samuel Cooper, — (History) 

First to make a confederate flag, Constance Carey, in 
1861. — (In War Songs and Poems of the Southern Con- 
federacy, by H. M. Wharton, Page 389) . 

Most powerful regular fortification on the Continent, 
Fortress Monroe. (Prison Life of Jefferson Davis, Page 
22). 

It is said of William Cocke that "No other American 
has participated in the making of so m_any constitutions or 
represented so many Constituencies". — (Library of South- 
ern Literature). 

First A. M. of the University of Virginia, Henry 
Tutwiler. 

Chairman of Peace Conference sent to Washington 
in 1861, John Tyler. 

First Agricultural report Edmund Ruffins, 1843. 

First white man to see Great Salt Lake, James Bridge3, 
bom m Richmond, Virginia. 

Oldest enscribed tomb in America is in Prince William 
County. Virginia, date 1608, 

Only natural tunnel in the world used as a R. R. bed in 
Scott County. 

First blood shed in Spanish American War, John Gibbs. 
— (Newspapers) . 



—28— 

First to explore from San Franscisco to Sacramento, 
John S. Freemont. — (History). 

First to discover phosphate deposits in Eastern N. C. 
and tin ore in Western N. C, Charles William Dabney. — 
(Library of Southern Literature). 

Signed the Ashburton treaty, John Tyler. 

First to establish the "Manufacture's Record, Richard 
H. Edmonds. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

Factory for making largest steel pipe, Lynchburg. — 
(Manufacture's Record). 

First neutrality proclamation, made by Washington, 
Answer to X, Y. Z. papers, — (History). 

Greatest pianist in the South, John Powell. — (Times- 
Dispatch). 

First to have vital statistics. — (South in the Building 
of the Nation). 

First vice president who became President, John Tyler. 
— (History). 

First newspaper in the South, Virginia Gazette (edit- 
ed by William Parks in 1736). 

First American King, Powhatan, crowned by Newport 
in 1608.— (Cooke). 

First complete set of laws ever published in U. S. 
"Statutes at Large" by William Waller Hening. — (Library 
of Southern Literature). 

First female spy, Miss Antonio Ford of Fairfax. 

First floating mine invented by Thomas Welden. 

First Episcopal Bishop in America (James Madison, 
cousin of the president.) — (Library of Southern Literature) 

First to adopt lecture system in school, Dr. William 
Smjill of William and Mary. 

First to declare themselves independent of Great Brit- 
ain at a public m.eeting, the citizens of Leedstown, West- 
moreland Co.. Feb. 27, 1766. — (Va. History Society). 

First p-old discovered in the U. S. on Rappahannock 
River in 1784. — (Thomas Jefferson's notes). 

Thomas Cooper of Henrv County, Virginia, invented a 
roller cotton gin in 1793. — (Confederate Veteran). 

Sie^ned Constitution from Virginia: George Washing- 
ton, Edmund Randoplh, John Blair, James Madison, Geo. 
Mason, George Wythe. 

First ffun fired at Santiago. — (Calvin Anderson). 

First Woman to save portraits and state papers in war 
of 1812, Dolly Madison.— (History). 



—29— 

First salute fired at El Caney. — (Calvin Anderson 

Engine of first Trans-Atlantic steamship built by 
Daniel Dodd. 

Inventor of chemical fire-extiguisher, Wm. A. Graham 
of Virginia. 

First R. R. tunnel in the world (through Blue Ridge 
Mountains) built by Col. Crozet. 

Greatest coal piers in the world are at Lambert's 
Point. — (Man. Record). 

Largest smelter in the United States, in West Nor- 
folk. — (Manufactuerer's Record). 

Writers of Best Sellers, Mary Johnston, Ellen Glasgow, 
Kate Langeley Bosher, Henry Sydon Harrison. 

First Democratic President, Jefferson. 

First inter-collegiate fraternity, Phi-Beta-Kappa, 1776. 

Most famous cemetery in the South, Hollywood, Rich- 
mond. 

First Post-master General admitted to President's 
Cabinet, W. T. Barry (born in Virginia) — (History). 

First chair of law, occupied by George Wythe, 1779, 
William and Mary. — (Library of Southern Literature). 

Greatest tragedian of modern times, Edwin Booth, 
— (New York Times). 

Most interesting museum in the South — Confederate 
Museum in Richmond. 

Twenty-two States have been annexed to the United 
States through the efforts of four Virginians, Jefferson, 
Monroe, Tyler and Winfield Scott, who conquered Mexico. 

Most prominent man in Texan struggle for independ- 
rnce. Stephen Austin. 

Dr. Hunter McGuire of Virginia was the first to propose 
that physicians be regarded as non-belligerents, free to 
serve the wounded on both sides — a forerunner of the 
Red Cross Physician of today. 

Greatest achievement in the History of America from 
a military stand point considering the small number of men 
engaged and the importance of results — Clark's Conquest of 
the Northwest 1778-9. 

Danville, Virginia, was the first city in the United 
States to own its electric lighting plant. 

Most unioue statue in America is the one of Stonewall 
Jackson which was presented by his English admirers 
and is in Richmond, Virginia. 

In 1909 the census reports on the lumber industry 



—30— 

shows that Virginia was operating more saw-mills than any 
state in the Union, 3511 in all. 

First Governor of INiissisi-ippi — Meriweather Lewis. 

There are more scrub pines in Virginia than any other 
state. — (R. C. Jones, State Forester). 

Lexington, Virginia contains the tombs of Gen. Lee and 
Gen. Jackson. 

The works at Money Point, Virginia for creosoting lum- 
ber are the largest, if not the only works of the kind in the 
United States. 

The Rock of Chicamauga was Gen. Thomas of Virginia. 

Washington's monument by Crawford is considered by 
many critics the finest of its kind in the world. 

First library in America — Rev. Robert Hunt's destroy- 
ed by fire in 1608. — (Dickenson). 

First Anglo-Saxon Grammar written in U. S. by Louis 
Klypstein. — (Henniman) . 

Patrick Henry, the Prophet of the Revolution, author 
of the first Virginia resolutions against the Stamp Act' 
will have the glory with posterity of beginning and ending 
the Revolution. — (John Adams). 

Greatest Cavalry General of the Continental Army 
Light Horse Harry Lee. 

Daniel Morgan of Virginia was called the "Thunderbolt 
of the Revolution" and "Washington's Right Arm." His 
rifiemen were the first to enlist in the Continetal Army. 

Under Madison, American Independence on the seas 
was established by the War of 1812. 

St. George Tucker, on account of his legal writings was 
called the American Blackstone. — (Painter). 

James Monroe, author of the Monroe Doctrine, 
"America for Americans". 

Robert E. Lee, "The very greatest of all the great cap- 
tains that English speaking people have brought forth". 
' -(Roosevelt). 

"Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign was the finest 
specimen (^f strategy and tactics ever seen in the u-orld''. 
— (McGuireL 

"The x\rmy of Norlhern Virginia had more forco and 
power than any ether army in the world. — (MeGuir3) . 

Last battle of war between states, Appomatox. 

First wind and current chart. — (Maury). 

First study of Gulf stream. — (Maury). 

First naval submarine battery service. — (Maury). 



—Si- 
Largest paper and pulp mill in U. S. at Covington, Va. 
— (Department of Agriculture). 

First School Fair in U. S. was held in Campbell County, 
Virginia. 

The father of the Anti-duelling law, the first passed in 
this country after the Revolution was Gen. Samuel Black- 
burn. — (Howe). 

"The first order of wisdom among those who acted on 
the theater of the Revolution" Jefferson said.<>^ /v%^a2l. ^. 

Made a desperate attempt to capture Benedict Arnold, 
John Campe. — (Howe). 

Among the first if not the first Baptist preacher in 
America, John Waller. — (Howe). 

Alexander Spotswood established the first post oflfiice 
in U. S. and mail was carried between Williamsburg and 
Philadelphia in eight or ten days. 

At Cobbs, nine miles from Petersburg, was establish- 
ed the first school for deaf mutes. 

Richmond, Virginia, has tlie first Battle Abbey. 

Final battle of the Revolution, Yorktown. 

The mother of Abraham Lincoln was Nancy Hanks of 
Virginia. 

Author of most authentic work relating to Jerusalem, 
James Turner Barclay, (His daughter disguised herself as 
a Mohamedan apd entered the tomb of Mohamed to secure 
pictures for this book). — (Tyler). 

First man to oppose the practice of medicine without 
a license, Theodric Bland. — (Tyler). 

Introduced the first bill for the occupation and settle- 
ment of Oregon, John Floyd. — (Tyler). 

Originated and enacted the celebrated code called 
"Lynch Law", James Lynch. 

(This did not mean hanging, but whipping or driving 
from the country). 

Robert Alexander established the first classical school 
west of the Blue Ridge. This school subsequently became 
Libertv Hall Academy, afterwards Washington College, and 
now Washington and Lee University. — (Withers). 

First company formed to improve rivers was James 
River Company, which was chartered in 1784 to deepen the 
James River. — (Smithey). 

The first Railroad chartered in the U. S. in 1830 to 
bnild a road from Petersburg, Virginia, to Weldon, N. 0. — 
(Smithey) . 



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